By Sabri Dibaco
Central Equatoria State Governor Emmanuel Adil Anthony has called on armed opposition commander Gen. John Kenyi Latio, also known as Kenyi Loburon, to end fighting in Wonduruba and embrace peace.
The government warned that continued violence is forcing civilians to abandon their homes and keeping children out of school.
Governor Adil appealed on Monday while speaking during a visit to the Wonduruba Administrative Area, where he urged Gen. Kenyi to consider the impact of the conflict on local communities.
“Last time, I said let Kenyi Loburon accept peace. There is no need for you to fight while children continue to miss school,” Adil said.
The governor said the continued fighting was hurting ordinary residents rather than resolving the conflict.
“If he was born here in Wonduruba, let him stop fighting. The children want to go to school. You may fight, but it is the civilians who are suffering,” Adil stated.
Adil appealed for his message to reach Gen. Kenyi directly, saying the state government wants an end to the violence and the suffering of civilians.
“Let this message go to Kenyi that the governor is the one who said it. Enough of the suffering. Pointing fingers at each other as rebels must stop. We want peace,” Adil said.
The governor also called for children displaced by the violence to return to school, emphasising the need to restore normal life in the area.
“Let the children come back so that we can protect what we have. Put an end to the fighting in this area,” Adil opined.
Wonduruba, in Central Equatoria State, has experienced insecurity linked to armed conflict, with violence affecting civilian movement, access to education, and the ability of residents to remain in their communities.
The latest appeal by Governor Adil comes amid broader efforts by authorities in Central Equatoria to encourage communities and armed groups to embrace peace and stability.
Adil has previously called on residents and political actors in the state to maintain peace and unity as South Sudan prepares for the December 2026 elections.
The governor’s latest message places particular emphasis on the impact of insecurity on children and displaced families, as he urged an immediate cessation of fighting and the return of affected residents to their homes.
The governor said the priority should be to protect civilians and restore access to essential services, particularly education, rather than allow continued armed confrontation to deepen suffering in Wonduruba.